Matt Brown

Matt has extensive experience of government, the corporate world and the media.

For more than a decade he was one of the most senior advisers to the Federal Coalition and was widely recognised for his political acumen and media campaigning skills. As Chief of Staff to the Senate Leader, he was intimately involved with every major legislative reform of the time.

Matt has a unique understanding of media and issues management, the political process and the workings of the bureaucracy. A veteran of four successful Federal election campaigns, he subsequently worked in the Western Australian resources sector before co-founding Van Baren Brown Strategic Communications.

Carina Tan-Van Baren

Carina has an intimate knowledge of the Australian media, government and corporate communications, having worked as a journalist, government media adviser and consultant for nearly 20 years.

She was a journalist with The West Australian newspaper for more than a decade, including time as Chief of Staff in the paper’s Federal Parliament bureau. She subsequently developed and implemented crisis management strategies in the Federal Department of Health and Ageing, including preparation for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and response to pharmaceutical tampering and extortion attempts.

As media adviser to the Federal Attorney-General and Minister for Communications and the Arts, she provided strategic advice and liaised with media, peak industry and community organisations to promote Government initiatives.

As a consultant, Carina has advised clients in both the public and private sectors, particularly in the areas of health and community services, environment and security. She has delivered comprehensive strategies for crisis prevention and response, reputation and change management and stakeholder consultation, as well as more general public relations activities.